Lure--Prof

Hey Ben, I use Createx and a gravity-feed Iwata. I cut small pantyhose pieces, about 1" x 1", and stretch them a little over the top and threads of the bottles, and while holding a patch in place, I screw on the (clean) cap. Now when I squeeze a few drops, or a cup full of paint, it gets strained on the way to the airbrush cup. I have to replace the pantyhose every once in a while, but not too often. I keep tweezers nearby to pull a bit of dried paint from around the "spout" if need be. Shake the paint thoroughly as usual before use. This simple system virtually eliminates those annoying little clogs.

Dave, I understand how the money dynamic works at a magazine, which is why I commented. In FLW's case, they show member numbers (which would be more valuable than mere subscriber numbers, because members are viewed as true enthusiasts, who are the target audience for specific niche advertisers) to advertisers to justify their ad rates, and as a member I voiced my concerns regarding their change of direction. In an age of media specialization, where some big name general interest outdoor magazines have fallen by the wayside, FLW has decided to become a Bass Tournament and-All-Kinds-of-Hunting Magazine, because many bass fishermen also like to hunt? Why not become a Bass and Other Species fishing magazine, because many bass fishermen also like to fish for Crappie, Muskie, Stripers and Bluegill? It just seems like a scattershot attempt to lure new advertizer dollars after losing Wal-Mart and Ranger money. Dwayne, That's great news about Jason and Wired2Fish.com Thanks for the info! I'll be stoppping by. Dean

Ben, my good luck is in having a fishing buddy like Jeff (Boone), who is there as a marshall. He said he'd tell me all about it when he returns, so I'll encourage him to pass along his experience. I think Jeff told me that he was also practicing with one of his Elite friends. I know he's having one heck of a good time, and BASS could not have a better man for a marshall. He is also a very innovative lure builder! Dean

Another member, screen name "Boone" is also there participating as a marshall. Jeff A. is a good enough fisherman that he could teach some of the pros a trick or two! Dean

I know what you're talking about, they're great eyes, really gather and reflect light! Wapsi, at www.wapsifly.com makes Hologram dome Eyes they call Mirage Eyes. These are what you're looking for. WTP doesn't make an eye like this one. The "predatorb" eyes Mad Bass links to, is Predator's Pearl Eyes, and looks very much to be the same deal, with the same effect.

Speaking for myself, I really hate to see changes at FLW's magazine...for my money it has been the best bass fishing mag available. BASS has become so editorially authoritative,so full of itself, you'd think they actually invented bass fishing. FLW Outdoors, under Jason Sealock's capable editorship, continued to explore all that is Bass Fishing from various viewpoints in a much more open-minded manner than only that of only touring professionals, which seems to be the BASS route these days. In BASS's case, the tail is wagging the dog, as they seem to have forgotten that there would be no pros or tournaments without the support of the rank and file anglers, many of whom were carving bass lures and practicing catch and release long before Ray Scott ever came along. Of course, what happens these days, if ESPN can't sell advertizing for the BASSMASTERS TV show? We know too that touring pros do actually sometimes use lures that aren't made by sponsors, but I won't tell if you won't. Realizing that a lot of bass fishers are also hunters, and no doubt being aware of the potential for previously untapped advertising dollars, FLW CEO Charlie Evans has hired the very experienced Colin Moore as editor-in-chief, for their new FLW Outdoors hunting and fishing magazine. For me, it simply means there's going to be less about bass fishing in the magazine and bass fishing has always been why I buy it instead of the general topic style mags. I wish them success, if for no other reason than they're a show of force for fishermen and fishermen's rights. We'll see... Dean

I like big Northern-strain Largemouth Bass. I've never fished for Florida-strain anywhere...yet! All my Florida fishing was Gulf Coast inshore, primarily for Snook, which are a great fish. I guided for Stripers fulltime for 3 years on Lake Cumberland, they are a great fish also. I like Muskies very much too, but can no longer handle the big tackle due to bad back & sciatica, knees, shoulders wrists... Smallmouth Bass, I can't get enough of, never will: I'll cast and drift Gulp for days on end, if I'm forced to, but I'd prefer them blasting topwaters! I haven't caught enough big Spots but they are fantastic. I love all kinds of fishing for a lot of different species, day in & day out, I'm a Bass fisherman. The sudden violence of a big Bass always has me hooked. Dean

If it is 'music" wire, but some brass beads on it and leave it in a moist place. Electrolysis should discolor or corrode it quickly. .035 stainless wire is considered a fairly light wire for 1/2 ounce and heavier spinnerbaits, though common on 1/4 & 3/8ths commercial spinnerbaits.

With E-tex, you definitely need a drying wheel, unless you want to flip it manually for several hours. I suspect that watching grass growing, paint drying, or yellow cedar rotting, would be absolutely titillating by comparison. My dryer uses a rotisserie kit purchased in the Wal-Mart Gardening Dept. a few years ago, and it shows every sign that it wil turn its steady 1 rpm forever.

Yeah! That stuff is called "product", and bears but a passing resemblence to skilled hand craftsmanship.

I like my Iwata Eclipse BS. In the Eclipse Series, and perhaps the Revolution Series, the bottle-feed brushes have .5 nozzles, while the gravity feed models all have .35 nozzles. What this is telling you is that you need a slightly larger nozzle size in a siphon feed to do the same job as a smaller nozzle will do in a gravity feed brush. I spray Createx, straight from the bottle, the pearls and everything else with my .35 nozzle, at various air pressures, and never thin any of it. www.dixieart.com sells the Eclipse BS for $119.95, and the Revolution BR for $72.95, and they are great to deal with.

E-tex should be measured in 2 equal amounts, not weighed: This is according to Envirotex-Lite instructions for use. I use metal measuring spoons, and bend a piece of wire to conform to the shape of the spoon to scrape it out completely. I mix epoxies with wire that conforms to the the shape of an upside down aerosol can bottom too. By never lifting the wire from the epoxy while mixing, I can mix rapidly, thoroughly, and bubble free. The shape of the can bottom, combined with the squeegee action of the wire, insures that no epoxy goes unmixed. I clean everything up with alcohol and am ready for the next batch. Perfect mixing, no bubbles, no cost, no waste, easy clean-up, what's not to love? Clean-up tip #512: Epoxy beginning to set up in the can bottom? Pour a little rubbing alcohol on it, then scrape it out with a large rounded circuit board lure lip. Be fairly amazed as the stiff epoxy loads up on the lip and stays there until it is easily removed with a little more alcohol on a paper towel; the same alcohol soaked towel that you wiped the last bit of residue from the can top will work fine...all easily done in less time than it took to type this. Don't Worry Be Happy money-saving tip # 233: Use this system with Devcon 2-ton purchased in bottles, save money over the syringe packs, smile, and quit cursing Wal-Mart.

It is very easy to expand your rig to hold more lures too, simply by building a wooden spider and stabbing it dead center with your rotisserie shaft. Buy or make a wood disc or two, and add equally spaced, equal length "legs" made from small dowels to the sides of the disc. Mine looks like quick attempt to build a little Ferris Wheel from Tinker-toys, or maybe a primitive wood spoked motorcycle wheel without a rim. I've put alligator clips on the ends of the dowels, to which I can attach, either spring clips with plastic jaws to hold crankbaits by the lip, or, hemostats to hold lures by a screw eye or hook-hanger. You can buy everything to put one together at a craft shop like Michael's, and at a hardware or home store for spring clips and some pieces of wood to build a simple stand for your new drying wheel. Mine holds eight hemostats or 16 crankbaits by the diving lip, and has been doing so for a few years now. I could very easily double its capacity, too.

Very well said Bob!

Experiment and practice with turning your air pressure down also, way down sometimes for fine detail. A brush may surprise you with its detail capabilities at 12 psi or so.